Naugatuck child collecting books for Newtown schoolchildren

By Jennifer Swift

Thursday, December 27, 2012

EAST HAVEN >> The public TV studio where a little girl used to read to herself as her mom worked, will now act as one of many drop-off locations for the girl's campaign to donate books to students in Newtown.

Elizabeth Saddig, 11, who now lives in Naugatuck, has organized a campaign for new or lightly-used books to be collected, and then donated to Newtown. Elizabeth is sending the books so they can go to the Chalk Hill School in Monroe, which will be the site of an interim elementary school for students who attended Sandy Hook Elementary School. The kindergarten through fourth-grade school was the site of a shooting on Dec. 14 where 20 students and 6 staff were killed by a gunman.

"I know little kids like to read fairy tales and fun stories, and reading used to cheer me up when I was little," she said, sporting a green and white ribbon -- the colors of Sandy Hook Elementary School.

At the studio, the box that according to the description written in marker once held Christmas decorations, was nearly filled halfway as of Thursday evening, just a few days after the drive began.

Books that once cheered her up included the "Berenstain Bears" series, Elizabeth said.

"I'm trying to tell them you're not alone, there are other people who care about you," she said. "I want them to go back to the day before the bad man came and shot people, and go back to school."

Elizabeth's mother, Kerry, now works as a nurse in Newtown, but used to work as a receptionist at ETV. Elizabeth's aunt, Marie Saddig, has worked there as a volunteer for 20 years. Elizabeth was born in East Haven.

Marie and Kerry both said Elizabeth came up with the idea all on her own after hearing about the events in Newtown.

"I'd like to say I'm proud, but proud just isn't the word ... I'm just amazed by her," Kerry Saddig said in the studio.

Marie said she then suggested to use East Haven as a drop-off spot.

"I just thought that if a young child could think of this, I thought other communities could help participate and help chip in," Marie said.

The goal of Elizabeth's campaign is to collect books that are age-appropriate for the children in grades K-4.

Marie said she is hoping the East Haven drop-off location will act as a central spot for people along the shoreline who wish to help.

"This is coming right from a child's perspective of what would a child enjoy receiving, and of course, she thought of books because she loves to read," Marie Saddig said. "Books are things that will make the kids feel good, to let them know that people are thinking of them."

Those interested can drop books off at the studio, 400 Coe Ave., from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Drop off locations are also at the town hall in Naugatuck, the bank inside of Stop & Shop in Naugatuck and Masonicare in Newtown. To reach Kerry Saddig about donations, email Ksad76@aol.com.